Vacansoleil-DCM has parted company with the soigneur who came to the team with Riccardo Riccò. The rider was fired last week, and the team noted that Flavio Mongiardo worked only for the controversial Italian. It was mutually agreed that his contract would end on March 31.

“He worked in principle only for Riccò. Now that he has gone, we no longer need his services,” the team said, according to De Telegraaf.

The team noted that there were no indications that Mongiardo was involved in Ricco's apparent doping. However, Mongiardo is understood to be in a relationship with Riccò's sister. “We are helping Flavio to protect himself. He is very close to Riccò. It is a difficult situation,” team spokesman Frank Kwanten told De Telegraaf.

Related Riders

Related Teams

Cyclingnews Newsletter

Sign up to the Cyclingnews Newsletter, from Immediate Media Company Limited. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information about how to do this, and how we hold your data, please see our privacy policy